Tire chain



F. E. MILLER May 9, H95@ TIRE CHAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet B.

Filed July 19, 1946 F. E. MILLER May 99 E95@ TIRE CHAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1,946

Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements in a tire chain and more speciiically pertains to an improved tire chain which may be used as single emergency units, or may be employed as a chain covering the entire periphery of'a tire.

The primary object of this invention resides in providing a tire chain having a standard unit which may be employed in multiples of two as desired, together with a novel, eliicient, easily applied, and easily adjusted unitary means for securing the units in desir-ed position upon a tire.

An additional object of the invention is to provide al device in conformity with the preceding objects, wherein the emergency chain may be easily'an'd readily attached to the wheels of vehicles without jacking up the same, and under extremely adverse conditions, such as when the vehicle wheel is emersed in snow, mud or the like.

l'Yet another important object of my invention resides in providing an emergency chain, in conformity with the foregoing objects, wherein an easily applied attaching means is adapted to be secured upon the outer side only of the chain unit.

Still another important object of the invention comprehends the arrangement of a device conforming to the aforementioned objects, wherein an endless chain means is provided for securing the individual units in pairs, in operative position upon a tire, and wherein a quick detachable fastening means is provided for selectively varying the length of the endless means, and wherein a readily adjustable tensioning means is provided for regulating the tension of the chain assembly upon the tire of a vehicle, while permitting the individual cross links to loosely embrace the tread of the tire.

These, together with numerous other objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by my device, one embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, showing a pair of emergency chain units applied in position upon a tire;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View through a portion of a tire showing the construction of the invention applied thereto; :and

Figur-e 3 is a side elevational view of a plurality of the units assembled upon a tire in a position to form a complete chain therefor.

In the accompanying drawings, numeral I denotes generally a vehicle tire upon which a plurality of units, each indicated at I2, may be applied in conformity with my invention. As shown best in Figures 1 and 2, each unit consists of a pair of arcuate strips, shown at I4 and I6, which are concentric with the bead or rim of the tire I0. As shown, the strip I4 is provided at the outer surface of the wheel while the strip I6 which is parallel thereto, is positioned upon the back side of the wheel. The strips Ill and I6 are connected by a plurality, in this instance two flexible members I8 which are preferably rigidly attached to the strips I4 and I6, and are generally U-shaped in cross section and are adapted to snugly embrace the tread and side walls of a tire. The perimeter'of the outwardly disposed strip I4, is provided with a plurality of axially spaced apertures 28 while corresponding apertures are positioned upon the rearwardly placed strip I6. A plurality of cross chains 22 are provided, having hooked end portions 24 which are adapted to detachably engage and be secured to the apertures above mentioned. The length of the cross chains 22 is so chosen that when the strips Ill and I6 are pulled radially inwardly of the wheel, in a manner to be subsequently described, the flexible members I8 will tightly engage the tread oi' the tire, while the cross chains 22 will freely and loosely embrace the tread. By means of this construction and proportioning of parts, the detrimental defect of the chaiing of the tire by too tight cross chains is safely eliminated. At each extremity of the strip I4, and at any other suitable points found desirable, are provided a plurality of headed studs 26 over which is entrained a continuous chain, which may preferably take the form of a cable 28 having a turn buckle 30 attached thereto as by eyes 32. Also `connected in the endless cable, is a quickly detachable fastening 34 secured as by a link 36 to a portion of the cable and having its hooked end selectively engaging one of a series of links 38.

From the foregoing, the utility and operation of my invention will be now apparent. When the condition of the vehicle renders the use of an emergency chain desirable, as when stalled in snow, mud or the like, a pair of units I2 is loosely disposed over diametrically opposite portions of the tire, with the strips I 4 disposed upon the outward surface of the Wheel. The endless chain 28 is then entrained over the stud 26, and tension is applied thereto by the turn buckle 30, whereby the liexible members I8 are caused to tightly grip and embrace the tire tread. As will be evident, the attachment of the single fastening means is easily eifected and readily removed when no longer necessary.

As shown in Figure 3, a plur-ality of units l2' are disposed in diametrically opposed pairs, in sucient quantity to completely envelop and encase the entire periphery of the wheel. The endless fastening means is then entrained over all of the protruding studs 26, and the single tensioning means 3U is manipulated to properly and evenly tension each of the units whereby the plurality of r'units will function as a single all-embracing anti-s'kid means. I, Z q z Since various modifications of the principles of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, I do not wish to limit mysel to the exact construction disclosed and describl, but may employ any suitable modifications falling within the scope of the appended l'ains.

I claim as my invention:

1. An emergency chain for vehicle tires cpmprising a pair of units, each of said uni'ts 'ihlidi ing a pair of arcuate strips curved to conform Lto the longitudinal curvature of a tire and to fit the side walls adjacent the rinitluerei,aV pair of bowed exible members connecting vsaid 'strips exitending between and rigidly securedv thereto, said strips 'and' members constituting a bradle, 'said strips yieldingly embracing a section of the side walls and tread of a tire, Said strips being pro'- videdv with a plurality of pairs of axially spaced apertures, a plurality of cross chains selectively engaging said pairs of apertures and `extenc'iing across the tire tread, a pair of headed stu'ds veictending from one strip of 'each unit, anda continuou's, `closed fastening means engageable with said studs to tension said units upon a tire.

2. An emergency chain for vehicle tires fcbnprising a pair 'of units, each of said units i'ncluding a p'air of arcuate strips curved to conform to the longitudinal curvature 'of atire and to it the side walls adjacent the rim thereof, a pair o'f iexible bowed members connecting said'strips extending between and rigidly secured thereto,

said strips and members constituting a cradle, said strips yieldingly embracing a section of the side walls and tread of a tire, said strips being provided with a plurality of pairs of axially spaced apertures, a plurality of cross chains selectively engaging said pairs of apertures and extending across the tire tread, a pair of headed studs extending from one strip of each unit, and a.V continuous, closed fastening means engageabl with saidstuds to tension 'sai'd'nits upon a tir, Isaid iians including a Asla'k takeu'p -member `for tensioning said means, said cross chains being longer than said flexible members whereby said tensioning means is inoperative to tension said cross chains.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said 'ntinous -fastening means is applied to the strips of units on the same side of a tire only, the other' strips being free to move relative to each other.

'4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said continuous fastening means is applied to the strips of units on th'e saine side 'of a tire only, the other strips of unitsbeing free to move relative to each other.

FRED E. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenties are 'f 'eoid i'n lthe 'file' f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

